1994 540iS SPECIAL

[lord_jagganath 421]

actually, what would Ray say he did? would it have been rebodying the 540is? or converting the 540iA into a manual?

[Rumblefish 3]

Na

Nah - means ya can do whatever the fu%k ya like so long as ya don't get caught and / or ya already have the money in the bank from what you've sold......

Does'nt even have to be the same, or even a similar colour.......that's got nada to do with ' incorporating all of the unique parts and the original Cars identifiers' either.....

Anyway, must go - thinking of starting a wee production line on turning 'poverty pack 3 on the tree XA Falcons' into 351 GT versions once I get some relevant VINs.....so long as I can get some crashed GT's, I should be right ae.......

I hardly think your Falcon example comes anywhere close, but realistically if you bought a crashed Falcon GT, lets say an XY, as the XA was crap by comparison, I've owned many a Falcon back in the day when having an XY as a daily was not unusual, but I digress, back to the crashed XY GT.... If the body was irreparable and you didn't want to see the end of another classic car, what are the chances your rebuild would include a factory GT shell? Not likely, so when you find a GS Shell, V8, Manual etc., and everything was transferred from the GT, what makes the car? The body shells are identical, from the same production line, and the factory fitted different components to make the model. Are you saying this would now make your car not a GT? I have restored many vehicles, from Ford Anglia's to Triumph Stags.. I am a qualified mechanic, and when I have rebuilt something, I know what I have built. I would be inclined to agree with your point if I had got a 1989 E34 525 shell and bodged a V8 and Manual into it...and thrown on a chassis tag.... but really, I'm struggling to see your issue. Maybe you just have nothing better to get bent out of shape about?

[Rumblefish 3]

actually, what would Ray say he did? would it have been rebodying the 540is? or converting the 540iA into a manual?

Ray did the Manual Swap, he did not do any of the other work on the car.... suspension swap, diff swap etc etc.

So Ray would say, he did the Manual swap....

[Rumblefish 3]

That grille is really not working for the front end imo.

I agree, when I bought it on Trade Me, I thought it would look much better than it turned out.. Oh well...

[Rumblefish 3]

Im not sure why anyone wouldnt want sport seats and steering wheel to be fitted, makes quite a difference.

If they had been in better shape I would have used them. I am looking for both, and they will end up in the car as soon as I find some.

[Phil-540i 166]

I hardly think your Falcon example comes anywhere close, but realistically if you bought a crashed Falcon GT, lets say an XY, as the XA was crap by comparison, I've owned many a Falcon back in the day when having an XY as a daily was not unusual, but I digress, back to the crashed XY GT.... If the body was irreparable and you didn't want to see the end of another classic car, what are the chances your rebuild would include a factory GT shell? Not likely, so when you find a GS Shell, V8, Manual etc., and everything was transferred from the GT, what makes the car? The body shells are identical, from the same production line, and the factory fitted different components to make the model. Are you saying this would now make your car not a GT? I have restored many vehicles, from Ford Anglia's to Triumph Stags.. I am a qualified mechanic, and when I have rebuilt something, I know what I have built. I would be inclined to agree with your point if I had got a 1989 E34 525 shell and bodged a V8 and Manual into it...and thrown on a chassis tag.... but really, I'm struggling to see your issue. Maybe you just have nothing better to get bent out of shape about?

Steve, maybe I need to clarify some things, from my perspective. Firstly, & with no reservations - I like your car, simple as that. It looks tidy, & 'its a bit different', with being a manual, & with some of the other bits it's got.

Morally, I have 'issues' with what you are maybe portraying it to be though. Maybe we have different morals & standards - I'm fine with that. For me, I think Juggy's post (#26) sums it up. Or are you saying its had the manual motor put in the auto 'shell' as well, etc etc??

Legally, I think you'll find there may be some issues with what you have done........and I'm confident that in it's current state I'm not the only one that will have that opinion on your 540.......

Just because I don't agree with your take on things doesn't mean 'I'm bent out of shape' or a 'hater'.......

Given you're now a member, & are gonna keep the car, here's looking forward to seeing a proper story & more pics of it....

[Rumblefish 3]

+1 to the above.

If you were genuine and appreciated the 540is and what it means you would have repaired the original.

In my opinion this is dodgy, you are selling a vehicle which has had the vin changed, that is illegal in this country I believe.

The car may be very nice, but should be sold as what it is, and not with misleading advertising. It is not a 540is now, it is now a 540ia converted to a 6 speed 540, still very nice maybe.

ps, why has it been withdrawn?

Withdrawal has been covered.

As for fixing the original it was a close run thing, I bought the 540ia donor to use the panels off, and sell the rest.

As I got into the job, I found someone had cut through the rear shock mount area to fit speakers in the 540iS, around a third of the circle the shock top protrudes through was cut away. I decided I wasn't happy to weld in the back parcel shelf from the donor car, including the top shock mounts, as the original car had had this area butchered, probably could have gotten away with it, and it would have been an easier road, but I would never have been happy with it.

So, as the donor was actually a good car, I had Ray convert it to manual, as I dislike auto's, and the madness began....

Edited October 6, 2013 by Rumblefish

[Rumblefish 3]

Steve, maybe I need to clarify some things, from my perspective. Firstly, & with no reservations - I like your car, simple as that. It looks tidy, & 'its a bit different', with being a manual, & with some of the other bits it's got.

Morally, I have 'issues' with what you are maybe portraying it to be though. Maybe we have different morals & standards - I'm fine with that. For me, I think Juggy's post (#26) sums it up. Or are you saying its had the manual motor put in the auto 'shell' as well, etc etc??

Legally, I think you'll find there may be some issues with what you have done........and I'm confident that in it's current state I'm not the only one that will have that opinion on your 540.......

Just because I don't agree with your take on things doesn't mean 'I'm bent out of shape' or a 'hater'.......

Given you're now a member, & are gonna keep the car, here's looking forward to seeing a proper story & more pics of it....

Thanks for the clarification, but I believe my morals are fine, nothing about the car is illegal - there is nothing on it, or in it, that I do not legally own. I was totally open with what had been done to the car, and certainly was not trying to hide anything, or pass it off.

The price reflected what the car is, and in my mind, represented excellent value - I know what it has cost me, and how much work has gone into it, profit was definitely not the motive.. The value was suggested by a BMW specialist mechanic who has recently worked on the car. All in all, as I have said before, you are entitled to your opinions... but they are not going to change mine.

I'm generally not one for telling the story till it's done, and generally, when I'm done I sell the car and move on to the next project.

I have been a member for a while just had nothing to contribute.

[BM WORLD 1282]

some nice sport seats here

http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/46228-e34-m5-e32-e28-e24-leather-sport-seats-just-recod/

and yes your 540is is nice , have seen it .

cheers brent

ps the engine cover fits well too

[Rumblefish 3]

Same car is referred to here back in 2006. Based on that info, colours don't even cross-over anymore via the VIN tags etc.

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/5-series-bmw/24196-if-you-want-find-out-original-order-specs-your-car-look-here-22.html

If I was to purchase it, & get stopped by the boys in blue, how would I prove its legit?? Irrespective of what plates & VIN tag you've given it, they do a trace on engine / block number, & what are they coming back with - "Sorry son, this should be a blue 540ia car here, whereas your info is saying its a green (PETROL-MICA METALLIC) manual". Next words they'd say probably revolve around "How bout you come for a ride with us & do some explaining.."

In my head, it actually needs the original rego plates on it, original VIN for THAT body, & LVVC for having been converted to manual......

Or, it needs LVVC for tag change / body change, as pointed out by SilverFox. At the moment, IMHO you are trying to have feet in both camps, & whilst it might not concern yourself, it does actually have big implications for any future owners of the vehicle.

Lastly, enthusiasts are 'that' for all sorts of different reasons, of which its a 'very much to their own' sorta thing. IMHO, your being 'asked questions of' by 'enthusiasts' when you're selling something that's supposedly 'rare & genuine' is just part of it, especially when by you're trying to sell it at the pricing you are, advertised as it is.

I own 1 BMW, but are here regulary, thus are an enthusiast by my own definition. You own 2 BMW's, yet appear to have joined to defend what you are doing outside this site.......IMHO that's got something to do with enthusiastically making a profit on a vehicle........

Any potential future owners were being made aware of the cars history.

The Petrol Mica Metallic Car is registered as Blue - the Orient Blau Car is registered as Blue.

If I replace the engine in my car - the numbers will not match - if the engine is not stolen, the boys in blue would have nothing to say... Engines are swapped all the time, and the new engine numbers are never added to the registration...

The price reflected what the car is, and in my mind, represented excellent value - I know what it has cost me, and how much work has gone into it, profit was definitely not the motive..

I have been a member for a while just had nothing to contribute.

[Rumblefish 3]

some nice sport seats here

http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/46228-e34-m5-e32-e28-e24-leather-sport-seats-just-recod/

and yes your 540is is nice , have seen it .

cheers brent

ps the engine cover fits well too

Thanks Brent.... I would have thought the engine cover would have elicited more comments from the experts, but it seems to have gone un noticed in the hullaballoo over whether the car is a 540iS or not

Edited October 6, 2013 by Rumblefish

[yng_750 247]

I dont have an issue with how it has been swapped.

And to be honest i think the nit picking over the ia or is badge is stupid.

this may be a relativly rare version of this car but its just a version.

its not going to be worth more or less based on the badge its going to be based on the condition, engine, drivetrain etc.

that being said it looks like a legal swap but if i was going to part with 12K i would be wanting a more substantial confirmation that its not going to be pulled up later during a wof etc. i doubt it will ever have legal issue but i could see a wof inspector deciding it needs to be recomplied or something.

TBH i think you should have keep this cars vin and plates, saying its a manual converted car especially when being done by brent makes it quality, saying plates have been swapped (even legally) will scare people off, not worth it just for an ia badge

[qube 3570]

Ray not brent*

[e30ftw 410]

IMO It is the same as throwing everything motorsport or extra option to any BMW, Alot of people do it. I don't think that justifies it bringing the plates and tags over. It's just a 540iA with extras, I just don't agree with the selling it off as a 540iS. Anyhow it is a nice tidy car

[yng_750 247]

exactly my point as long as its done well im not going to look at it and say oh sh*t it used to be a standard auto im going to look at what it has now and see what sort of car im getting for my money.

matching Vin numbers etc dont mean squat to me unless its a ferrari 250 gto short wheel base.

as long as its all legal that is

[KwS 2421]

BTW, straight from the WOF manual.

Reason for Rejection

Condition

4. A VIN or chassis number has been (Note 1) (Note 3):

a) removed, or

b ) erased, or

c) altered, or

d) defaced, or

e) obscured, or

f) destroyed, or

g) obliterated, or

h) affixed unlawfully or by unauthorised persons (Note 3).

Note 1

A vehicle must be referred to a VIN issuing agent (VTNZ, VINZ, NZAA) to have a VIN attached if:

a) the vehicle does not have a VIN or chassis number, or

b ) the VIN or chassis number has become illegible.

Note 2

A valid VIN is a unique number that has been assigned to the vehicle in the vehicle’s country of origin or by a person appointed by the NZTA. It consists of 17 characters that never contain the letters I, O or Q, and that is capable of being decoded to provide identifying information about the vehicle.

Note 3

The vehicle inspector must advise the local police if there is reason to believe that the VIN or chassis number has been tampered with in any way.

I dont know if the plates and tags have been swapped from the iS onto the iA body as this thread hasnt made this clear, but if they have the above would confirm it is illegal unless done by an authorised person.

I know someone brought up the Dakar M3 that was rebodied; the difference with the was that it was still a 318i, the tags had not been swapped, but it had been certified for all modifications (which is legal).

If youre swapping plates and tags from one car to another; no matter what the car is, or what your reasons are, unless its done legally you are no better than young Johnny with his totes wikd dirft Cefiro.

Edited October 7, 2013 by KwS

[Phil-540i 166]

Thanks Kelvin - that's exactly the point I've been trying to make really............irrespective of the trans / seats/ options swap between the 2 vehicles, its illegal to swap tags & plates........

I dont know if the plates and tags have been swapped from the iS onto the iA body as this thread hasnt made this clear, but if they have the above would confirm it is illegal unless done by an authorised person. From what Steve has said, this bit here is exactly what he has done - IMO the VIN for the vehicle (its unique 17 digit ID number, is NOT necessarily whats on the ID plate - I think you will find it IS actually (on a E34) what the number is that's stamped on the firewall between the wiper arm mounts. (This is there so people like Steve can't just do whatever they think they can). At the moment, the ID tag, & rego plates do not match up with that number, which means its illegal to currently operate that 540 on NZ roads.....

Steve tried to cut some corners IMO - its well documented (even within this site) as to how many 540is cars were sold NZ new, & what their colours & chassis numbers are / were.

IMO, I think it'll be found that this particular vehicle can only be known / registered as a 540ia both now & in the future in NZ, which means it's original plates & ID will have to be refitted to it.

Bar getting pulled up in the vehicle & getting a roadside inspection finding faults with the vehicle's identity, probably the other way it can go further backwards for Steve from this point is if the vehicle is involved in a crash (likely to be no insurance claim excepted), or if he has already 'cancelled' the 540ia registration & handed its rego plates in - VTNZ will likely want the vehicle recompiled from scratch.

I hope it's noted that I didn't say anything on the auction, or even in this thread until after Steve himself had wandered in (having a cry) saying the things he did, whilst trying to justify & quantify what he had done....

For future reference - this number will probably end up out of the system - Vin # WBAHE52070BK35074

Edited October 7, 2013 by Blue-540i

[Apex 693]

Hot topic.

It was a reasonable price for what looked like a mint 540i, and at least it had a LSD fitted unlike the factory cars with the open diff.

Does seem like a lot of mucking around with the tags and reg etc.

[skidz 197]

now this one is real :

http://bringatrailer.com/2013/10/04/m5-alternative-1995-bmw-540i-m-sport/

[Apex 693]

now this one is real :

http://bringatrailer.com/2013/10/04/m5-alternative-1995-bmw-540i-m-sport/

Not really.

The 540is was a NZ/AUS only model and different spec to the North American M540i that we never got down under, the Americans received the M540i as an alternative to the M5, it had all the M5 fruit minus the engine.

Our 540is was mechanically identical to a regular 540i only with a Manual transmission.

[roo 41]

Yeah I was going to say, what are the differences with the iS - looks similar to any motorsport 540i plus manual transmission.

I was excited to see this go up on TradeMe at that price as it is similar to mine.

Edited October 7, 2013 by roo

[Phil-540i 166]

Not really.

The 540is was a NZ/AUS only model and different spec to the North American M540i that we never got down under, the Americans received the M540i as an alternative to the M5, it had all the M5 fruit minus the engine.

Our 540is was mechanically identical to a regular 540i only with a Manual transmission.

Yank ones were 'Friday cars' - assembled somewhat differently with lots of things in wrong place, like, I dunno, steering wheel......

[Apex 693]

Yeah I was going to say, what are the differences with the iS - looks similar to any motorsport 540i plus manual transmission.

I was excited to see this go up on TradeMe at that price as it is similar to mine.

Any E34 with a Motorsport kit was optioned/ordered that way, there was no factory built M540i (other than america) like there was the M535i.

The IS was run of cars optioned in a certain way at the end of the E34's production run, 1994 and 1995, its not a factory recognized model or special edition.

There are a few threads on here with more specific information from people who know more about them than I do, I remember the advertisements for them when they were new and I have driven a couple over the years but that's about it.

[kiwi535 538]

 

Any E34 with a Motorsport kit was optioned/ordered that way, there was no factory built M540i (other than america) like there was the M535i.

 

The IS was run of cars optioned in a certain way at the end of the E34's production run, 1994 and 1995, its not a factory recognized model or special edition. 

 

There are a few threads on here with more specific information from people who know more about them than I do, I remember the advertisements for them when they were new and I have driven a couple over the years but that's about it.

Dont forget the original e 34 535is was optioned exactly the same way via bmwnz

[Mark 178]

Old douche nozzle is back on TM with this car for sale again

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/540is/auction-693229260.htm